Conkers banned from school playgrounds; golf buggies out of bounds on the golf course and summer footwear boycotted from offices.

Nobody would argue that regulations are required to keep the public safe, but in some cases it could be perceived health and safety has become too stringent for its own sake.

Conkers have been played for generations, but sadly, the compensation culture has put paid to such traditional games we used to play in the playground without sparing a thought for our safety.

The high cost of insurance catapulted through compensation claims has no doubt contributed to such caution.

Over the past two years, Britain has had plenty of reason to celebrate with the Royal Wedding and Diamond Jubilee prompting many communities to host street parties. Many more would probably have strung out the bunting and celebrated had it not been for the prohibitive cost of insurance to cover public liability.

Health and safety is important in protecting lives, particularly in construction – one of the high-risk industries – but when taken too far, it can dilute the valuable work being done.

Back in 2007, the Telegraph & Argus reported on time standing still in Yeadon after Leeds City Council made the decision not to wind Yeadon Town Hall’s timepiece following an inspection which found ‘some risks to staff’ involved in the operation.

Councillor Colin Campbell, Lib Dem Otley and Yeadon, says an electronic system had since been introduced, but he criticised the decision at the time to abruptly cease a practice which had been done for a century.

“A bit of common sense ought to be injected into these sort of things,” says Coun Campbell.

He says issues which need addressing should be addressed, but he believes the compensation culture has made many councils ‘risk averse.’ Cafes refusing to heat up baby food and hospitals refusing to have microwaves on wards are just some decisions deemed ‘over zealous’ on health and safety grounds.

The Myth Busters Panel, set up in April by the Department for Work and Pensions, aims to dispel the health and safety myths by inviting anyone who believes they are subject to ludicrous ruling to get in touch and get a professional view on whether an issue is a risk or if health and safety is a convenient excuse.

Among the issues they’ve dealt with so far are a nursery teacher banned from taking children to her allotment, and an airline passenger refused a blanket on health and safety grounds but told she could buy one for £5.

They also heard about a local council refusing to allow hanging baskets to be placed on a lamppost for the Village in Bloom until engineers had assessed the lampposts to show they were capable of holding the bracket and basket, and the cancellation of a school production, contributing to students’ GCSE exams, because the lighting operator had not attended a fixed ladder training course.

The suspension of deliveries to businesses on a Doncaster street ‘during adverse weather conditions’ hit the national headlines. Royal Mail took the action in response to a postman suffering a broken shoulder after slipping on algae and moss on the pavement.

Issues with the removal of doormats, wall signs and fire extinguishers from a block of flats because health and safety rules prevented them being there were also raised along with tenants being advised by a housing association their letter boxes needed to be sealed for health and safety reasons, in case of a firebomb attack. Hallway noticeboards were also removed as a precaution.

Mike Cooper, a health and safety consultant with OHS, an independent health safety and environmental management consultancy, which has offices in Yorkshire – including Bradford – feels ludicrous cases can often dilute the importance of the health and safety industry and can lead to a lot of money being spent on bureaucracy.

He says the industry needs to be ‘treated with respect’ and taken more seriously.

Employment Minister, Chris Grayling, says: “It’s hugely frustrating when excuses are being made in the name of health and safety. The panel is helping the man and woman on the street to fight back against the jobsworths.”

Judith Hackitt, chairman of the Health and Safety Executive and the Myth Busters Challenge Panel, says: “The Myth Busters Challenge Panel has seen some blatant and disturbing examples of people using health and safety as an excuse in the last few months, ranging from a smokescreen for a whole host of unpopular decisions to completely nonsensical interpretations of what the law requires. We’re tackling these jobsworths and their lame excuses, which trivialise the real work of health and safety. The real task is to prevent death, serious injury and ill health caused by work.”

For details, visit hse.gov.uk/contact/myth-busting.htm